MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was ejected from his team’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday after erupting at officials over a no-call on forward Julius Randle less than halfway through the first quarter.
Randle was battling near the rim with six minutes, 19 seconds to play in the first quarter when Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein appeared to hit him on the arm. There was no call on the play, resulting in the Timberwolves losing possession.
As Randle threw his arms in the air, Finch leaped out onto the floor and started screaming at crew chief Courtney Kirkland. Upon receiving one technical foul, Finch continued the tirade and needed to be restrained by his assistant coaches, earning another technical foul and the ejection.
Finch did not leave the court immediately, continuing to pepper Kirkland with profanity as the Target Center crowd roared its approval. Assistant coach Micah Nori took over for Finch.
Chris Finch was ejected six minutes into OKC-Minnesota and had to be held back by four staff members 👀 pic.twitter.com/B4BjXK48Mw
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 20, 2025
Finch’s protestations may have had an effect on a game the Timberwolves went on to win 112-107.
Minnesota shot 47 free throws, 17 more than the Thunder, who were whistled for 30 personal fouls.
“He definitely got his money’s worth,” said Wolves forward Naz Reid, who had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.
This early ejection was an extension of Finch’s long history of frustration with the way he believes the Thunder are officiated. After a win against Oklahoma City during the 2024-25 regular season, Finch made his feelings known.
“It’s so frustrating to play this team because they foul a ton. They really do,” he said. “They foul. They foul all the time. And then you can’t really touch Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). It’s a very frustrating thing, and it takes a lot of mental toughness to play through it.”
Finch is not alone in complaining about Oklahoma City’s whistle. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is often accused of flopping or foul-baiting. Target Center started a “free-throw merchant” chant during last season’s Western Conference finals to protest his style of play.
After beating the Thunder in the NBA Cup earlier this week, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama made a comment that seemed to be a veiled shot at the Thunder.
“I’m just glad to be a part of something that’s growing to be so beautiful,” he said. “So pure and ethical basketball.”
The allegations have never seemed to bother Gilgeous-Alexander or the Thunder, who won the championship last season and are off to an overpowering 25-3 start to this season.
Finch has been a vocal critic of officiating. Anthony Edwards was suspended for a game last season because he picked up too many technical fouls, mostly for arguing with officials. And just in their previous game, a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Finch berated the officials at the end of the contest.
The Thunder, by contrast, rarely complain about calls, either in-game or afterward. They have let their play do the talking and can point to the numbers to rebut the claim that they benefit from a friendly whistle.
Gilgeous-Alexander entered the game averaging 9.5 free-throw attempts, the fourth highest in the league despite being its most aggressive driver to the basket. He is well behind league leader Luka Dončić (12.5) and is also trailing Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.8) and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija (9.7). Gilgeous-Alexander took eight Friday night, half as many as Randle.
The Thunder are 16th in the league in free-throw attempts this season, at 24.7 foul shots per game. The Timberwolves are sixth, with 27.4 per game.
Last season, the Thunder were 26th in free-throw attempts per game, with just 20.4 per night.
“It was a high-level game in a hostile environment, and one that we can take a lot from,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “So that’s what we need to do — take a lot from it.”